Disability Language

The words and phrases used to refer to disabled people and disability, which carry significant social, political, and cultural implications. Disability language encompasses identity-first language (e.g., "disabled person"), person-first language (e.g., "person with a disability"), and euphemistic constructions (e.g., "differently abled," "special needs") that are generally disfavored by disability communities. Language preferences vary across disability categories, cultures, age groups, and individual contexts. Research shows that disabled people overall prefer identity-first language, though preferences differ by specific disability community — making it important to ask individuals their preference rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.